India’s new French Rafale jets have flown “familiarisation” flights abovethe border region contested with China where a deadly clash betweensoldiers from the nuclear-armed neighbours took place in June, an officialtold AFP Monday.
The first five planes of a $9.4 billion order for 36 Rafale aircraft wereformally commissioned on September 10, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singhcalling them a “strong message” to New Delhi’s adversaries.
“Rafale fighter jets have been familiarising in our operational areasincluding Ladakh,” a senior air force official told AFP on condition ofanonymity.
In mid-June, Chinese and Indian soldiers engaged in violent hand-to-handfighting in the Ladakh region that left 20 Indian troops dead.
China has also acknowledged suffering casualties but has not revealed anyfigures.
In another incident in early September, shots were fired for the first timein 45 years on the border with China.
The announcement of the Rafale flights came as military commanders fromboth sides held their latest round of talks aimed at easing tensions alongthe disputed Himalayan border.
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It was not revealed when the flights commenced, but an AFP photographer sawa Rafale jet fly over Ladakh’s capital Leh on Monday.
The defence ministry had said during the commissioning that the fighterplanes had “already flown and familiarised with our operationalenvironment” without specifically mentioning Ladakh.
“(The Rafales) have undergone intense integrated training with other combatfleets including firing of advanced weapons,” that statement added.
India acknowledges it is behind China and other key nations in militaryfirepower, and the purchase of the Rafale jets is one of many made in a bidto bolster its 1.4 million-strong army. -APP/AFP
